ACR Welcomes New Radiology Leaders to the AMA RUC

ACR® is pleased to announce several leadership changes within radiology’s delegation to the American Medical Association Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC). The appointments bring experienced physician leaders in reimbursement, coding, valuation and advocacy to key roles representing radiology in the Medicare valuation process.

Melissa Chen, MD, has been appointed Radiology RUC Representative, succeeding Gregory Nicola, MD, FACR. Dr. Chen is a neuroradiologist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She brings nearly a decade of RUC experience through her service as former advisor and alternate advisor for the American Society of Neuroradiology.

Michael T. Booker, MD, MBA, has been appointed Alternate Radiology RUC Representative, succeeding Lauren Nicola, MD, FACR. Dr. Booker is a body imager with Scripps Health Inpatient Providers Medical Group in California. Dr. Booker has extensive experience in radiology economics and reimbursement policy and currently serves on the AMA RUC Practice Expense Subcommittee.

Minhaj S. Khaja, MD, MBA, FSIR, has been appointed ACR RUC Advisor, succeeding Andrew Moriarity, MD, MBA. Dr. Khaja is a Professor of Radiology & Cardiac Surgery and is an interventional radiologist at the University of Michigan Health System. Dr. Khaja is a former RUC advisor for the Society of Interventional Radiology and brings extensive experience in physician payment policy, coding and valuation on behalf of the specialty.

Robert Bour, MD, has been appointed ACR Alternate RUC Advisor, succeeding Michael T. Booker, MD, MBA. Dr. Bour is a Associate Professor of Radiology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Bour also serves as RUC advisor for the Radiological Society of North America and has longstanding expertise in coding, compliance and reimbursement policy.

ACR also extends its sincere appreciation to the outgoing representatives and advisors whose expertise and commitment helped strengthen radiology's voice within the RUC process:

Gregory Nicola, MD, FACR, a radiologist with Hackensack Radiology Group and a longtime leader in healthcare economics and physician payment policy, provided steady leadership and advocacy on behalf of the specialty during his tenure as Radiology RUC Representative.

Lauren Nicola, MD, FACR, a pediatric and breast imaging radiologist at Triad Radiology Associates brought valuable expertise and perspective to the role of Alternate Radiology RUC Representative while helping advance radiology's interests in reimbursement and valuation discussions.

Andrew Moriarity, MD, MBA, a radiologist with Advanced Radiology Services, provided thoughtful leadership as ACR RUC Advisor and made significant contributions to physician payment policy, coding and valuation efforts on behalf of radiology.

For more information, contact Stephanie Le, ACR Director, Economics and Health Policy.